Diagnosis of Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Dear Ask The Doctor: My blood pressure is 157/108 what should I do. I am a male 40 yrs old. I just took it and those were the readings. Should I go to the ER

Dear Casey: High blood pressure (BP) is usually diagnosed by a consistent elevation of BP readings, usually on three separate occasions greater than one week apart. Mild to moderate high BP is generally asymptomatic. If your blood pressure readings were consistently this high they would be classed as stage 2 Hypertension, where systolic (top number) >160 or diastolic (bottom number) >100 mmHg. There are many lifestyle measures that can be modified to lower blood pressure (BP). These include: Weight reduction with a target Body Mass Index of <25; reduced sodium intake <100mmol/day = 2.4g sodium; increased daily physical activity minimum of 30 minutes/day; limit alcohol intake <2 units/day for women and<3 units/d for men; smoking cessation; reduced saturated fat/cholesterol intake, adequate calcium and magnesium dietary intake and adequate intake of dietary potassium approx 90 mmol/d. The DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) has been promoted by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. If you have symptoms or your blood pressure readings are consistently this high, I suggest attending your family doctor.